Flushing valve



Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,942

H. A. sFr-:AR

FLUSH I NG VALVE Filed June 21, 1923 FIB- l- INVENTOR.

A TT ORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD A. SPEAR, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TJOHN W. STACY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLUSHING VALVE.

Application led June 21, 1923. Serial No. 646,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l. Howann A. Sana-xn, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and

a resident of Springfield. in the county ofA Hampden and State ofl\lassaf lulsctts, have invented a new and use't'ul Flushing Valve, oi'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flushing valves ol'tiusl'iometers, of the magnetic type, especially designed tor use inlavatories. and consists broadly and generally ot' a body havingrtherein inlet, outlet.

ressure, andreliei' chambers, a main valve etween said inlet and outletchambers, movable compression means betweensaid outlet and pressurechambers, the same being connected with said valve, a springpressedrelief valve between said pressure and relief chambers, a tubular membereX- tending downwardly from said relief chamber. through said pressurechamber and the parts and members below the same, into said inletchamber. a. stem extending downwardly from said relief valve andcarrying at the lower end, in said tubular member, a pertoi-ated.rctarding valve. a. spring-pressed ball-valve for said retarding valve,and magnetic means for opening said relief valve, together with suchother parts and members as n'iay be necessary or desirable in order torender the flushing valve complete and serviceable in every respect, allas hereinafter set forth.

The primary object ot my invention is to ;5 produce a flushing valvethat can be operated at a distance by electro-magnetic energy, whichvalve is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, strongand durable, and positive in action, and

o wherewith are obtained a quick discharge, and a slow closing movementinvolving a predetermined time interval, the action of the valve beingautomatic throughout both the opening and closing operations, after 5the initial impetus is given by closing an electric circuit, through anelectro-magnet, solenoid, or the like.

Another object is to provide a valve of this character with regulatingmeans wherei by the interval of time between opening and closing may beincreased or decreased.

A further object is to produce a lushing valve which is non-leakable,practically noiselcss, and withal highly practicable and i efficient.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course ot' the followingdescription.

l attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by themeans illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is acentral, vertical section through a tlushin valve which embodies apractical form olfr my invention, the movable parts being disposed inclosed or otherwise normal or initial positions; Fig. 2, an enlarged,bottom )lan of the main valve; Fig. 3, an enlarged, central, verticalsection through the retarding valve, and, Fig. 4, a cross sectionthrough the central tubular member and valve-stem therein looking downonto said retarding valve.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The lower part of the casing and the main-valve elements of thisflushometer are similar in construction to what is commonly known as theJenkins valve.

As illustrated in the drawings, the valve body comprises a casing l, anda hollow head or dome 3 secured to said casing, with a. packing-ring 2between. The casing 1 is designed to be connected with the usual supplyand discharge pipes of an ordinary water-supply system, and said casinghas therein an inlet chamber 4 and an outlet chamber 5. The chambers 4and 5 are separated by means of a partition 6 which is rovided with ahorizontal valve-seat 7.

hereis a brass-lined pressure chamber 8 in the casing l below the dome3, and a relief chamber 9 in said dome. The top of the chamber 9 in thedome 3 consists ofa plate or disc 10 of brass or other material which isa non-conductor of magnetism, and such disc or top is secured, with thecylinder that forms the sides of said chamber, to the casing l by meansof a lurality of bolts 11. The bolts 11 pass ownwardly through the top,sides, and bottom of the dome 3 and the packing-ring 2 into threadedengagement with a flange 12 at the top of the casing 1. There is anopening in the axial center of the top 10 in line with the axis of thevalve-seat 7, and also in the same line is an opening through the bottomof said dome. A pole-piece 13, of an electro-magnet or solenoid 14, istapped into the axial opening in the top 10, and may be adjusted thereinso as to project a greater or the tube upwardly'linto place withA theflange orshoulder 16 tight against the underside of said floor. There isa valveseat 18 in the axial center of the top' of the .nut 17, whichvalve-seat communicates below with4 the upper terminal'of the tube 15which is received in the nut 17 below said valve-seat;` A` horizontalwaste pipe 19 is tapped.into one side just above the'bottom f of thedome3, andcarries the water away fromv the-chamber 9. l

The tube 15' extends downwardly nearly v to the bottom of the casing'l,and the lower end of said tube is closed by means of va screw-cap 20.Within the tube 15 is a valvestem 21- which extends upwardly through thevalve-seat `18 to form and lserve as a relief valve 22 for saidvalve-seat, and to receive or carry an armature 23 above the nut 17. Thelower terminal of the valve-stem 21 is tapped into a retarding piston24, which latter is' in the tube 15. Aispiral spring 25 encircles thevalve-stem2l between they'nut 17 and the piston 24, and normallycausessaid valve-stem to remain inits low position with the hub ornipple of the armature 23, into which the upper terminal of saidvalve-stem is tapped, bearing on top of said nut. There are four (moreor less) oblique passages 26 in the piston 24. such passages openingthrough. the top I'and into the Vapex of a conical recess 27 which isformed in the bottom of said'piston. There is in one side of the piston24 a vertical passageor flattened part 28, although the latter might beomitted in the event said piston have a fairly loose fit in the tube'15. The conical recess 27 forms a seat for a ball-valve 29. Theball-valve is normally held against the valve-seat thus formed by meansof a spiral spring 30 the bottom terminal of which is supported on andcentered by the screw-cap 20 and a. post 45 that rises from the centerthereof, said ball being supported at the upper terminal vof saidspring. The spring 3() is lighter or weaker than the spring 25. Thatportion of the valve-stem 421 that is below the valve 22 is out away, asat 46, in order that there shall be an open passage through theValve-seat 18 when said valve is raised out of said seat. l

The tube 15 has one or more openings 31 therein just below the flange16, and communication between said tube and compression chamber 8 isthus established, and there is in one side of said `tube-a ,verticalpassage or flattened parti32, which extends from the horizontal plane ofthe openings 31 downwardly to the bottom of said tube. Such passage orliattened part 32 might be omitted in the event the mam-valve parts andmembers next to be described haven fairly loose fit `on the tube 15. A

y'Slidingly arranged on the tubel is a hollow member 33 which serves asaValvestem` for a valve 34 for the' valve-,seat 7 Thisis the main valve.The valve-stem33 below thel valve 34 is tapped intoa valve member 35. Asleeve 36, having a topflange 37 and a bottom flange 38, is..mountedfionthe valve-stem Theva1vestcm 33 yhas a.y

top 'flange 39 between which andthe Bange 37 is a leather washer orcup-packing 40 that tightly fits the walls of' the chamber `8 in whichlatterl thesemembers move up and down.` The flanges 37 and 39 and thecup-'packing 4() form a piston-head. The valve 34 is clamped between theflange38 and the valvemember 35. Thevalve 3l when in closedpositionbears on the top vof the valve-seat 7, while the upperportion ofthe valve member 35 at such time fills the opening through said seat.The lower por tion of the valve me1nber35 is rusto-conical .in shape,and there is a plurality of grooves 41 in and lengthwise of theperiphery thereof, consequently, when the valve 34 and said member areelevated yso that such frustoconical, grooved -part of said member is intlievalveseat 7, water is` lpermitted toflow fromthe chamber 4, aroundthe aforesaid member vand through said grooves, through said seat intothe chamber 5. The mainvalve construction just described is of ra naturewhich prevents water-hamm@r.KL

The water in the chamber 4 rises through the passage 32 into thepressure chamber 8, passes through the openings 31 into the tube l5above the retarding piston 24, and through the passage 28 in said pistoninto said tube below said piston. Thus it is seen ythat the chamber 8and the tubey 15 are full of water, but that no water can enter thechamber 9 while the valve 22 is closed. The area of the piston-headbeing greater than that of the valve member 35, the pressure above saidpiston-head causes-the valve 34 to be retained in closed position on thevalve-Seat 7, and without relieving such pressure said valve can not beopened.

The length of time which the reliefl valve 22 remains open, or thelength of time which it takes to close the same, under the retardingeffect of the piston 24, maybe varied by screwing the solenoidpole-piece 13 farther in to the chamber 9 and thus nearer to thearmature 23 when in low normal position, to decrease such time, and byscrewing said pole-piece/arther out of said chamber and thus increasingthe distance between it lfl and said armature, to increase such time.That these conditions are obtained is due to the fact that, inthe firstinstance, the slow closing movement permitted to the relief valve by theretarding piston is shortened, because the armature 23 elevates saidrelief valve a short distance only, and, in the second instance, saidmovement is lengthened, because said armature elevates said relief valvea greater distance.

At 42 two binding-posts are represented for wires 43 and 44 that formparts of the necessary elect-ric circuit.

The operation of this flushing Valve, assuming that the parts andmembers are disposed as in Fig. 1, is as follows:

The solenoid 14 is energized for an instant, when its pole-piece 13attracts to itself the armature 23. The armature 23 in rising intocontact with the pole-piece 13 carries with it, against the resiliencyof the spring 25, the valve-stem 21, thus removing the relief valve 22from the valve-seat 18, and opening a passage from the interior of thetube 15, through said seat, into the chamber 9. The valve-stem 21carries upwardly with it the retarding piston 24. The piston 24 rises soquickly that it passes away from the ball-valve 29, the oblique passages26 being of suficient size to enable said piston to make the quickascent through the water in the tube 15 and leave said ball-Valvebehind, in spite of the fact that the spring 3() is beneath the same.The spring 30 quickly, however, after the ascent of the piston 24,forces the ball-valve 29 against its seat 27' and thus closes thepassages 26 at their lower ends. Now the piston 24 can descend, underthe influence of the spring 25, only so fast as displacement of thewater with which the tube 15 is avlways filled can be made through thenarrow passage 28. The chamber 8 is full of water which has entered thesame from the chamber 4 through the narrow passage 32, and the tube l5is full of water, as previously stated, which water enters said tubethrough the openings 31 therein, and the water from'said tube and saidfirst-named chamber immediately 'passes through the valve-seat 18 intothe chamber 9, from which latter the water es, capes through the pipe 19into the sewer. The water at this time passes from the chamber y8through the openings 31 into the tube 15, and then upwardly through saidtube and the valve-seat 18 into the chamber t). As soon as the electriccurrent is cut oif from the solenoid 14, the pole-piece 13 becomesdemagnetized and releases the armature 23 to the spring 25. The spring25 forces the piston 24 downwardly, but only so fast as the water in thetube 15 can be displaced through the narrow passage 28, as previouslyobserved, and said piston carries n downwardly with it the valve-stem 21and the valve 22, eventually causing said valve to close the valve-seat18. The ball-valve 29 is moved downwardly with the retarding piston 24,against the resistance of the springl30, so that the lower ends of thepassages 26 are closed securely throughout the descent of said piston.Previous tothe closing of the valve 22, and while the water is escapingfrom the .chamber 8 into the chamber 9, the pressure of the water belowthe valve member 35 causes said member, the valve 34, and the valve-stem33, with the other parts and members carried thereby, to be raised asufficient dista-nce to open the way through the valve-seat 7, andpermit the water to pass from fthe chamber 4 through said Valve-seatinto the chamber 5. The flow of water from the inlet to the outletchambers continues until the pressure of the water in the chamber 8 issufficient to force downward the piston-head in said chamber 8 and causethe valve 34 to close the valve-seat 7, when the ilow of water from saidinlet chamber to said outlet chamber is cut off, and further How ceases.IThe grooves 41 in the valve member 35 increase the area presented tothe pressure of the water in the chamber 4, and facilitate both theopening and closing operations of the main valve, and also constitute afactor in preventing water-hammer. The water pressure begins to increasein the chamber 8, to bring about the closing of the valve 34, as soon asthe valve 22 is closed, and continues to increase until the balance ofpressure changes from the chamber 4 to the chamber 8. The way for Waterto pass from the chamber 4 to the chamber 8 is always open through thenarrow passage 32.

Water enters the chamber 4 under pressure as usual, and the resultsdescribed above are due to the fact that a certain amount of waiterentering said chamber rises through the passage 32 into the chamber 8until the latter is filled and has a pressure therin equal to thepressure in the chamber 4, and Ato the further fact that ythe chamber 8is much larger in diameter than the opening through the valve-seat 7, orthe area of the piston-head in the chamber 8 is greater than that ofsaid Valve-seat, so that the valve 34 is seated with a forceproportionate to the diiference in area when the pressure in thechambers 4 and 8 is equal.

It naturally follows that the opening of the relief valve 22 enables.the pressurein the chamber 8 to be reduced, with the result that thegreater pressure of the water in the chamber-4rcauses the valve34 to beopened. As soon as the relief valve is closed, however, the waterpressure in the chamber 8 begins to increase, by reason of the entranceJinto said chamber of the water through the passage 32, and continues toincrease until the force of the water above the piston-head in saidchamber is greater than that below the valve 34, when the latter iscaused to descend onto its seat, as previously explained.

A lock-nut 47 may be provided for the solenoid pole-piece 13, said nutbeing above the top 10 of the dome 3.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement ofsome or all of the parts of this fiushing valve may be made, withoutdeparting .from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope ofwhat is claimed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a flushingl valve, a hollow body having therein communicatinginlet and outlet chambers, and a pressure chamber, a fixed member, a.main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in saidpressure chamber communicating with said inlet chamber, and a stemconnecting said valve and piston-head and slidingly arranged on saidfixed member, the area of said piston-head being greater. than that ofsaid valve, upwardly-opening means to relieve the pressure in saidpressure chamber, such means consisting in part of an armature, and anadjustable solenoid in the top of said body above said armature, tooperate said relief means, through the medium of said armature. i

2. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inletand outlet chambers, and a pressure chamber, a fixed member, a valvebetween said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in said pressurechamber communicating with said inlet chamber, and a stem connectingsaid valve and piston-head and slidingly arranged on said fixed member,the area of said piston- Vhead being greater than that of said valve,

downwardly spring-pressed means adapted to be opened upwardly to relievethe pressure in said pressure chamber, and magnetic means to open saidrelief means against its spring.

3. In a fiushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inletand outlet chambers, and a pressure chamber, a fixed member,y a valvebetween said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in said pressurechamber communicating with -said inlet chamber, and a stemconnectingsaid valve and piston-head and slidingly arranged on saidfixed member, the area of said pistonhead being greater than that ofsaid valve, downwardly spring-pressed means adapted to be openedupwardly to relieve the pressure in said pressure chamber, such means.

consisting in part of an armature, and an adjustable solenoid in the topof said body above said armature, to operate said relief means throughthe medium of said armature. v

said relief valve provided with an armature,

and an adjustable solenoid in the top of said body above said armaturetoopen and control said relief valve through the medium of said armature.

5. In a flushing valve.' a hollow body having therein communica-tinginlet and outlet chambers, -a pressureQ chamber in constant`communication with said inlet chamber, and a rehef chamber 1ncommunicatmn with said pressure chamber, a magnetic element set in thetop of said relief chamber, a main.

valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a controlling piston-headin said pressure chamber for said valve, and an upwardly opening reliefvalve between said pressure and relief chambers and with a part in themagnetic field below said'magnetic element.

6. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inletand outlet chambers, a pressure chamber in constant communication withsaid inlet chamber, and a relief chamber in communication with saidpressure chamber, an adjustable magnetic element set in the top of saidrelief chamber, a main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, acontrolling piston-head in said pressure chamber for said valve, and anupwardly opening relief valve between said pressure and relief chambersand with a part in ythe magnetic field below said magnetic element.

7 In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inletand outlet chambers, a pressure chamber in constant communication withsaid inlet chamber, and

a relief chamber in communication with said pressure chamber, a mainvalve between said inlet and outlet chambers, an upwardly -openingrelief valve between said pressure and relief chambers, and providedwith an armature in said-relief chamber, a pistonhead in said pressurechamber, connections between said main valve and said pistonhead, thelatter being adapted normally tov retain said main valve in closedposition, and an element set in the top of said relief chamber, adaptedto be magnetized and demagf a relief chamber in communication with saidpressure chamber, a main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, arelief valve between said pressure and relief chambers. and providedwith an armature in said relief chamber. a pistou-head .in said pressurechamber, connections between said main valve and said piston-head. thelatter being' adapted normally to retain said main \'al\'e in closedposition, and an adjustable element in said relief chamber, adapted tobe magnetized and demag'netized, in operative position relative to saidarmature.

9. ln a flushing! Valve. a hollow body ha ing therein inlet, outlet,pressure, and relief chambers. a rabe-seat between said inlet and outletchambers. a Valvefor such seat.

a piston-head in said pressure chamber. a valve-stem member connectingsaid valve and piston-head. a valve-seat between said pressure andrelief Chambers. a valve for said last-named valve-seat, a tube belowsaid last-named valve-seat and extending" through said piston-head. saidtube opening .into said pressure chamber. aud there beingsT an openpassage between said inlet and pressure chambers, a stem extending fromsaid second-named valve into said tube, a perforated piston carried bysaid stem in said tube, a spring arranged normally to force said stemand its valve and piston downwardly, means normally to close theperforations in said perforated piston. the construction ,providing foran open passage between both ends of said perforated piston, and meanstoopen said second-named valve against the force of said spring.

l0. In a. iushing Valve. a hollow body havingtherein inlet, outlet,pressure, and relief chambers, ayalve-seatbetween said inlet and outletchambers, a valve for such seat. a piston-head in said pressure chamber,a valve-stem member connecting said valve and piston-head, a valve-scatbetween said pressure and relief chambers. a valve for said last-namedvalve-seat, a tube below said last-named valve-scat and extendingrthrough said piston-head, said tube opening into said pressure chamber.and there.beinf.r an open passage between said inlet and pressurechambers, a stem extending from said second-named valve into said tube,a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube, a spring'arranged normally to force said stem and its valve and pist-ondownwardly, means normally to close the perforations in said perforatedpiston, the construction providing for an open passage between both endsof said perforated piston, and magnetic means to open said secondnamedvalve against the force of said spring.

11. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein inlet, outlet,pressure, and relief chambers, a valve-seat between said inlet andoutlet chambers, a. valve for such seat, a piston-'head in said pressurechamber, a Yalvefstem member connecting said valve and piston-head. avalve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers` a valve for saidlast-named valve-seat, a tube below said last-named valve-seat 'andextending' through said piston-head,` said tube opening;- into saidpressure chamber, and there being;` an open passage between said inletand pressure chambers. a stem cxtendine` from said ysecond-named valveinto said tube. a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube. aspring` arranged normally to force said stein and its Valve and pistondownwardly. means normally to close the perforations in 'said perforatedpiston. the construction providing for an open passagebetween both endsof said 'perforated piston. and adjustable magnetic means to open saidsecond-named valve against the force of said spring.

l2. ln a flushing` valve, a hollow body having.r therein inlet. outlet,pressure, and relief chambers, a valve-seat between said inlet andoutlet chambers, a valve for such seat, a piston-head in said pressurechamber, a valve-stem inember connecting said valve and piston-head, avalve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers, a valve for saidlast-named seat. a tube below said last-named seat and extending throughsaid pistondiead, said tube opening into said pressure chamber` andthere being an open passage between said inlet and outlet chambers, astem extending from said second-named Valve into said tube, a perforatedpist-on carried by said stem in said tube, a spring arranged normally toforce said stem and its Valve andpiston downwardly, a springLpressedball-valve arranged normally to close the perforations in saidperforated piston, the construction providing: for an open passagebetween the ends of said perforated piston, and means to open saidrelief Valve against the force of said sprinv. I

13. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein inlet, outlet,pressure, and relief chambers, a Valve-seat between said inlet andoutlet chambers'. a valve for such seat, a piston-head in said pressurechamber, a valve-stem member connecting said Valve and piston-head, avalve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers, a Valve for saidlast-named seat, a tube below said last-named seat and extending throughsaid piston-head, said tube opening into said pressure chamber, andthere being` an open passage between said inlet and outlet chambers, astem extending from said secondnamed valve into said tube, a perforatedpiston carried by said stem in said tube, a. spring arranged normally toforce said stem and its valve and piston downwardly, a spring-pressedball-valve arranged norvhaving therein inlet, outlet` pressure, and

relief'chambers, a valve-seat between vsaid inlet and outlet chambers7 avalve for such seat, a pistonhead in said pressure chamber, a valve-stemmember connecting said valve and piston-head, a valve-seat between saidpressure and relief chambers, a valve for said last-named seat, a tubebelow said last-named seat and extending through said piston-head, saidtube opening into said pressure chamber, and there being an open passa ebetween said inlet and outlet cham ers, a stem extending from saidsecond-named valve into said tube, a perforated piston carried by saidstem in said tube, a spring arranged normally t0 force said stem and itsvalve and piston downwardly, a spring-pressed ball-valve arrangednormally to close the perforations in said perforated piston, theconstruction providing for an open passage between the ends of saidperforated piston, and adjustable magnetic means to open said reliefvalve against the force of said spring.

. HOWARD A. SPEAR. Witnesses F. A. CUTTER, C. C. WEST.

